Toy projectile



Aug. 9, 1949. L. ARMSTRONG TOY PROJECTILE Fi'led Feb. 1, 1946 s IIN r Il i.. n U W a, w

E: f# N n w n Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY PROJECTILE Leslie Armstrong, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,875

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in toy projectiles, and more particularly to such a novel toy projectile in simulation of a rocket bomb.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a self-propelling toy in simulation of a rocket bomb, such as the l-2 type of rocketpropelled bomb or projectile.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein the propelling mechanism is entirely self-contained in the projectile, and may be reset and reilred as many times as desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device characterized by a relatively resilient nose, whereby damage to articles of furniture, in the event the device is fired indoors, is obviated.

Other objects will in part be obvious from and in part be pointed lout in the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in longitudinal section, disclosing one form of device embodying features of this inventive concept and showing the same in cocked position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the device in operated or projecting position.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw-l ings.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the projectile of the instant invention comprises a body portion Il! of generally cylindrical shape terminating in a conical nose portion I I, the latter being preferably composed of rubber, or similar resilient material, precluding damage to any object struck by the projectile. The rear end of the body Il) is tapered, as at I2, and provided with an axial recess I3, having a reduced forward extremity I4. An annular flange l5 is provided in the rear end of the recess I3, defining a circular opening I8 smaller in diameter than the recess I3. Inserted axially in the recess I3 and slidable through the opening I6 is a cup-shaped tubular plunger I'I having a lateral flange I8 on its forward open end. A helical expanding spring I9 is inserted in the open end of the plunger I'I with its forward end abutting the forward end of the recess I3 and its rearward end abutting the closed rear end of the plunger, the ends of the spring being seated in the reduced recess portion I4 and closed rear end of the plunger, respectively. In the expanded position of the spring I9 the plunger I'I is positioned rearwardly out of the recess I3 with its flange I8 urging the annular flange I5. Opposite sides of the forward part of the tapered rear portion I2 of the body Ill are formed with slots 28 opening into the recess I3, across which are xed pivots 22 lon which are pivoted lugs 2| projecting radially inwardly from forward portions of platelike vanes 23 which are rearwardly elongated and extend longitudinally along the rear tapered body portion l2. The forward ends of the vanes have noses 23 which normally bear against the side of the body Il] forwardly of the slots 20. The lugs 2l are arranged to catch behind the plunger flange I8 to retain the plunger in forward cocked position.

As shown in Figure 3, fixed or stationary fins 2e may be fixed to the body I0 at right angles to the movable fins 23.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The device is cocked by forcing the plunger I'I forwardly, while holding the body I0, so as to compress the spring I9 and permit the flange I8 to cam the lugs 2l aside and then be engaged behind the flange I8 on the forwardV end of the plunger l1, and thereby maintain the device securely in position for firing.

To re'the projectile, it is placed with its rear end against any suitable relatively unyielding back-stop surface and the movable vanes 23 then manually compressed toward each other, thereby releasing the lugs 2l from the plunger flange I8 and permitting the spring I8 to expand and forcibly drive the plunger II rearwardly until the plunger flange I8 strikes the annular flange I5. This action of the plunger I'I against the backstop surface projects the projectile forwardly `toward the target at which it was aimed.

Obviously, the range and trajectory of the device are determined by the angle at which the same is held against the back-stop surface.

'From the foregoing it will now be seen that Ythere is herein provided a device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments of the invention may lbe made, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that disclosure made herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative except as limited by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A self-propelled toy projectile comprising an elongated body formed with an axial recess opening through its rear end, a tubular plunger axially inserted in and axially movable in said recess, a helical expanding spring having its forward end abutted with the forward end of said recess and its rearward end inserted in said tubular plunger, means at the rear end of said plunger against which the rear endof said spring abuts, said spring when in expanded condition being sufficiently long to position said tubular plunger partly out of the rear en-d of said recess and beyond the rear end of said body, and means on said body arranged to engage a portion of said plunger when pushed forwardly into said recess so as to compress said spring for holding saidl plunger in such yforward position and manually releasable from said portion of the plunger so as to permit said spring to expand and drive said plunger forwardly out of said recess against a back-stop whereby said body is projected forwardly from the back-stop.

2. A self-propelled toy projectile adapted to project itself forwardly from a back-stop, sai-d projectile comprising an elongated body formed with an axial recess opening through its rear end and extending forwardly for a substantial portion of the length of said body, a tubular plunger inserted endwise in said recess, the rear end of said plunger being closed and the forward end of said plunger being open and provided with a lateral stop flange and the rear end of said recess being formed with an internal stop flange against which. said plunger flange can engage to stop further rearward movement of said plunger out of said recess, a helical expanding spring inserted in said tubular plunger with its rear end abutting the closed rear end of the plunger and its forward und abutting the forward end of said recess, said spring being arranged to expand sufficiently to position said plunger a substantial distance rea-rwardly beyond the rear end of said body, and releasable catch means on said body -for engaging behind said plunger stop flange when said plunger is pushed to a forward position in said recess in which said spring is compressed, so as to reta-in said plunger in cocked position, said catch means being manually releasable to free said plunger and permit said spri-n-g to expand and drive said plunger rearwardly from said body against the back-stop and thereby project said body forwardly from the back-stop.

3. A self-propelled toy projectile adapted to project itself forwardly from a back-stop, said projectile comprising an elongated body formed with an axial recess opening through its 'rear end and extending forwardly for a substantial portion of the length of said body, a tubular plunger inserted endwise in said recess, the rear end -of said plunger lbeing closed and the forward end ol said plunger bein-g open and provided with a lateral stop flange and the rear end of said recess being formed with an internal stop flange against which said plunger flange can engage to stop further rearward movement of said plunger out of said recess, a helical expanding spring inserted in said tubular plunger with its rear end vabutting the `closed rear end of the plunger and its forward end abutting the forward end of said recess, said spring being arranged to expand sufficiently to position said plunger a substantial distance rearwardly -beyond the rear end of said body, and releasable catch means on said body for engaging behind said plunger stop flange when said plunger is pushed to a forward position in said recess in which said spring is compressed, so as to retain said plunger in cocked position, said catch means being manually releasable to free said plunger and permit said spring to expand and drive said plunger rearwardly from said body against the back-stop and thereby project said body forwardly from the back-stop, external circumferentially spaced vanes along a rear portion of said body for guiding the said body in projected flight.

4. A self-propelled toy projectile adapted to project itself forwardly from a back-stop, said projectile comprising an elongated body formed with an axial recess opening through its rear end and extending forwardly for a substantial portion of the length of said body, a tubular plunger inserted endwise in said recess, the rear end of sai-d plunger being closed and the forward end of said plunger being open and provided with a lateral stop flange and the rear end of said recess being formed with an internal stop flange against which said plunger flange can engage to stop further rearward movement of said plunger out of said recess, a helical expanding spring inserted in said tubular plunger with its rear end abutting the closed rear end of the plunger and its forward end abutting the forward end of said recess, said spring being arranged to expand suillciently to position said plunger a substantial distance rearwardly beyond the rear end of said body, and releasable catch means on said body for engaging behind said plunger stop flange when said plunger is pushed to a forward position in said recess in which said spring is compressed, so as to retain said plunger in cocked position, said catch means being manually releasable to `free said plunger and permit said spring to expand and drive said plunger rearwardly from said body against the back-stop and thereby project said body forwardly from the backstop, external circumferentiallj7 spaced vanes along 4a rear portion of said body for guiding said body in projected flight, some of said vanes being movably mounted on said body and having legs extending through slots formed in said body and opening into said recess, said lugs constituting said releasable catch means and being retainably engageable in one position with said plunger stop flange and out of flange in another position.

5. A self-propelled toy projectile adapted to project itself forwardly from a back-stop, said projectile comprising an elongated body formed with an axial recess opening through its rear end and extending forwardly for a substantial portion of the length of said body, a tubular plunger inserted endwise in said recess, the rear end of said plunger being closed and the forward end of said plunger being open and provided with a lateral stop flange and the rear end of said recess Y being formed Awith an internal stop flange against which said plunger flange can engage `to stop further rearward movement of said plunger out of said recess, a helical expanding spring inserted in said tubular plunger with its rear end abutting the closed rear end of the plunger and its forward end abutting the forward end of said recess, -said spring being arranged to expand suinciently to position said plunger a substantial distance rearwardly beyond the rear end of said body, and releasable catch means on said body for engaging behind said plunger stop flange when said plunger is pushed to a forward position in said recess in which said spring is comcontact with said plunger stop pressed, so as to retain said plunger in cocked position, said catch means being manually releasable to free said plunger and permit said. spring to expand and drive said plunger rearwardly from said body against the backstop and thereby project said body forwardly from the back-stop, said releasable catch means comprising circumferentially spaced night guiding vanes on the rear part of said body having lugs projecting radially into said recess through slots formed in said body, means pivoting said vanes -for movement toward and away from the side of the body, said lugs being arranged to be moved toward the side of the body for retainably engaging said lug-s with said plunger stop flange in the outward position of the vanes and movable away from the side of the body to release the lugs from said plunger stop ange.

LESLIE ARMSTRONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l0 Number Name Date 942,486 Dall Dec. 7, 1909 1,455,075 Chapman May 15, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 171,649 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1921 

